OS: Windows Server 2003 Exchange ver: 2003 I have multiple servers connected at my home lab. My ISP is Comcast running a dynamic ip address. I have a router with static IP addresses on all servers. I have installed Active directory on my domain controller and the domain name is “lets say ABC.com” On a separate server I am attempting to set up an exchange server. I purchased ABC.com and own the domain and some hosting. Now when I run a dcdiag to attempt to connect the exchange server I get an errors saying there is no connection with the domain controller. When I ping my FQDN I get the IP address of the internet web site instead of my internal domain name. Is this because I have my domain name on my network ABC.com? Should I change my domain name to ABC.local? Also if not, how do I differentiate between an internal domain and external web address?

Set dns IP to your local dns server machine instead of the internet dns. Playing to the angels Les Paul (1915-2009)

You never name your external and internal domain names the same unless you plan on doing splitbrain dns

My DNS server is set to my local DNS not my public web address DNS. Should I then switch my domain name to ABC.local. I dont know what split DNS is.

Might rename it local.abc.com or something like that. Try nslookup to see why is offering the ip address. Playing to the angels Les Paul (1915-2009)